Discover the alpine Walser villages of Damüls and Faschina-Fontanella, nestled between the Bregenzerwald and the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. Whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, or simply unwinding with wellness and relaxation, summer here offers endless possibilities. And with the Bregenzerwald & Großes Walsertal Guest Card, you can experience true Austrian hospitality.

Families with children will find countless opportunities to explore nature up close and enjoy unforgettable adventures in the mountains. The Guest Card is your key to a wealth of vacation experiences: from mountain railways, swimming pools, and bus connections to many other attractions throughout the Bregenzerwald and the Großes Walsertal – all free of charge for stays of three nights or more.

The Bregenzerwald is the largest region in Austria’s westernmost state, Vorarlberg. Stretching from Lake Constance in the west all the way to the Tyrolean border in the east, it offers an impressive diversity of landscapes. From gentle alpine foothills to majestic high mountains, the Bregenzerwald has it all – making it both a wonderful place to live and an inspiring destination to explore.

Around 32,000 people live in the Bregenzerwald region, spread across 23 villages. The people here have always been mindful of shaping both their living spaces and the agricultural cultural landscape with care. Many villages surprise visitors with a fascinating blend of traditional and contemporary (wooden) architecture. Architecture and craftsmanship play a pioneering role: working hand in hand, architects and artisans create buildings and spaces of remarkable quality, while also nurturing an awareness of aesthetics and ecology that inspires other disciplines.

Visitors can experience this spirit in many ways:

-By staying in houses that combine tradition with modernity, or that have been carefully restored in recent years.

-By dining in local inns, hotels, and restaurants, where regional flavors take center stage. The culinary highlight is undoubtedly the famous Bregenzerwald cheeses, especially the mountain and alpine varieties. The KäseStrasse Bregenzerwald celebrates this cheese culture with informative and enjoyable stops along the way.

-By attending cultural events and exhibitions, where classic and modern elements often merge with the surrounding natural setting. A highlight is the annual Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg. Another is the “Werkraum” in Andelsbuch, which showcases innovative craftsmanship.

Agriculture still shapes much of the Bregenzerwald. The traditional three-stage pasture system (valley – Mittelalpe “Vorsäß” – high alpine pastures) remains vital for preserving the cultural landscape. This practice has been recognized on Austria’s UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The region’s cultural landscapes can be explored on countless hiking and themed trails that share the stories of the land. Mountain bikers will also find detailed maps with 23 top routes for beginners, advanced riders, and experts, available from the Damüls Faschina tourist office. For those seeking adventure, local outdoor providers offer guided tours along special trails through this unique alpine world.

Slowing down is a way of life in the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. Here, living in harmony with nature is more than just a motto – it shapes the relaxed atmosphere of the valley, where you can switch off, unwind, and fully embrace the beauty of the natural world.

The snow-covered mountain ridges of the Grosses Walsertal invite you to dream and unwind. Whether skiing, winter hiking, or indulging in culinary delights – here you can slow down, find peace, and spend precious time in nature with your loved ones.

As diverse as the natural landscape is, so too are your opportunities to experience summer here.

Whether it’s classic hiking on more than 230 kilometers of trails and themed routes, mountain biking, or something completely different – such as horseback riding, fishing, or climbing – summer in the mountains of the Grosses Walsertal is sure to be an unforgettable experience. And the best part: you can easily reach your starting points with the summer mountain lifts or our special hiking buses.

A vacation in the Grosses Walsertal Biosphere Reserve means finding peace, quiet, and time for yourself – together with the Walser people. It’s about taking time for special moments, opening yourself up to extraordinary experiences, and letting personal encounters leave their mark. Taking time to wonder. Taking time to enjoy.

This is exactly what wohl.zeit promises. Carefully designed programs and guided hikes invite you to pause, reflect, and draw inspiration in the Grosses Walsertal Biosphere Reserve.

You can also find peace at the wohl.plätze – special places where nature’s views are so unique that you’re encouraged to stop, sit down on a wohl.platz bench, and simply enjoy the moment. These places have been chosen for their exceptional beauty – places where you might just want to linger a little longer.

The “Man and the Biosphere” program was launched by UNESCO in the 1970s with an ambitious goal: to find ways of preserving habitats of particular value for future generations. Over the years, a global network of model regions for sustainable living and economic practices has been created. These model regions are known as biosphere reserves and include such famous places as the Rocky Mountains, the Galápagos Islands, and the Serengeti.

In a biosphere reserve, people and nature are meant to interact and complement each other in a positive way. The guiding principle is to make use of nature without harming it. On November 10, 2000, the Grosses Walsertal was officially designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

In Damüls-Faschina, past and future meet with respect. Here, things are not replaced, but carefully developed further. Tradition provides the foundation – and innovation grows from it: quietly, thoughtfully, and with a clear vision for the future.

This spirit can be seen in many ways – sometimes obvious, sometimes only on closer look. In architecture, tourism, agriculture, and even education.

Take the biomass heating plant in Damüls, for example. It was created from the desire for a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of heat. Or consider the buildings that blend naturally into the townscape – built with regional wood, a clear design language, and a sense for the bigger picture.

Innovation here also means listening. Listening to what matters to people. To what nature dictates. To what a place wants to express. The “Land of Swings” project is a good example: more than just a photo spot, it’s an invitation to change perspective. Movement turns into stillness, a view becomes an insight. A swing made of local wood, placed in a spot chosen with care.

Fresh ideas are also shaping agriculture and gastronomy. Young farmers are bringing new life to old huts, focusing on direct marketing, and linking climate-friendly travel with enjoyable hiking trails.

In Damüls-Faschina, a quiet kind of innovation is growing – one that doesn’t need a big stage. It is steady, genuine, and deeply rooted in what makes this part of Vorarlberg so unique. Here, it’s not the loudest that matters – but the most authentic.